Chapter 47

Kid rode hard across the prairie, eager to reach Saint Joseph as soon as possible. He was dying to lay eyes on Louise and see her expression when she saw him appear. A couple of hours more and he'd arrive in St. Jo. He had spent the night in the open and as soon as it dawned, he had started off again. Despite his eagerness to reach his destination, he had to admit that he was enjoying the ride thoroughly. Since the end of the Express he hadn't gone on a lengthy ride, and now he was coming to realize that he really missed it. Maybe he and Lou could plan to go on a ride together one of these days. It would be so pleasing to spend a few days on the trail alone with her, sleeping under the stars and cuddling in front of a cozy campfire.

Kid remembered the day so long ago when he had come across Lou on one of his rides. She had been so rude and unfriendly towards him that the memory always made him chuckle in amusement. That moment seemed to have happened in another lifetime since it felt so long ago. On that ride he had first seen what a natural rider Louise was. She loved her horse, and Kid wondered why she had decided to take the stage to go to Saint Joseph this time. He knew that she didn't like to be cooped up in the cabin of the carriage for many hours, so she must have her reasons for not taking Lightning with her like usual.

The first buildings of the city appeared in the distance and with his heart throbbing in anticipation Kid spurred Katy into a fast gallop. When he finally found himself within the confines of Saint Joseph, he led the horse to the local stables and after making sure that his mare was well tended, he ambled inside the city on foot. His saddle bags hanging from his shoulder and his bedroll under his left arm, Kid decidedly walked along the boarded walkway in the direction of the hotel he had always stayed in while in the city. He'd get himself a room first and the clerk might be able to tell him whether Lou was staying there as well and where she might have gone. Otherwise, he'd have to start looking around for her. The city had grown considerably, and it wouldn't be a piece of cake to cross paths with her in such a busy place. However, his worries stopped then and there as he suddenly caught sight of Lou and her siblings a hundred feet ahead of him.

Lou and Theresa were chatting in the shade of the covered walkway while Jeremiah was gaping intently at something in the window of a store. Kid smiled brightly as he slowly made his way towards them. Lou's back was towards him, and it was Theresa who first saw him approach. The young man brought a finger against his lips conveying for the girl to keep quiet, and she simply kept smiling. When he finally reached them, Kid slid a hand around Lou's waist, bringing her against his body and kissing her neck. Louise almost jumped out of her skin at the unexpected fright and was about to punch whoever had the nerve to touch her, but she stopped short as she saw who it was. "Kid! What are you doing here?"

"I told you I wanted to tag along to see Theresa and Jeremiah. And well… here I am," he said and without letting go of her waist he leaned in, kissing her again this time on the lips.

"Kid!" she exclaimed blushing hotly while she pushed him back. The children were looking at them with wide smiles, and Lou motioned Kid with her head that they weren't alone and he shouldn't be doing any kissing in a public place.

"Hey, children," Kid said, amused at Lou's sudden shyness, "I'm really glad to see you."

"Kid, we didn't know you were coming!" Jeremiah exclaimed with obvious contentment.

"Well, I got a bit waylaid, but I couldn't miss the opportunity of seeing you for anything," Kid replied, ruffling the boy's hair teasingly.

"Did you bring Katy?" the boy asked again, his eyes like saucers with excitement.

"Sure I did."

"Good!" Jeremiah exclaimed loudly while clapping his hands at the same time.

Kid then turned to the young girl who was looking at him with a wide smile. "You doing fine, Theresa?"

Instead of answering his question, she asked one of her own, "Kid, are you Louise's sweetheart?"

Kid had to smile at the girl's words and glimpsed at Lou through the corner of his eye, realizing that she looked very serious. "Well, Theresa, I ain't sure how sweet my heart is, but it definitely belongs to your sister. I hope you two approve of my courting her."

Jeremiah shrugged his shoulders in indifference while the young girl let out a loud 'Oh yes! It's wonderful!' and came to wrap her small arms around Kid's waist in a tight hug. He dared to cast a look at Louise and this time a gentle smile spread over her face.

After Theresa's open display of affection Kid asked, "So tell me, what are the plans for today?"

"We're going for a picnic," Theresa announced happily.

"A picnic sounds good," Kid replied.

"The nuns kindly prepared some food for us to take," Lou explained. "But first I need to go to the store and buy a few things that Jeremiah and Theresa need … clothes, shoes, stuff like that. Maybe in the meantime you could get yourself a room in the hotel, freshen up and we can meet later, say, in an hour?"

Kid nodded and asked, "You staying in the hotel as well, Lou?" He wouldn't need to get another room if she already had one.

"Yes, but you need a room for yourself, don't you?" Lou added wriggling her eyebrows pointedly. Kid first frowned, thinking that she was actually mad at him and didn't want to share the room with him as they had been doing lately. Yet, realization dawned on him and he understood what she was trying to point out. The two children were there listening to them and understandably Lou wouldn't want them to know about the intimate nature of the relation their sister had with her "sweetheart".

"All right, Lou. I'll see you later then," Kid said and after agreeing where they should meet, he went ahead to the hotel.

About an hour later the couple and the two children headed for a little wooden area next to a pond where they would be having their picnic. After much insistence from Jeremiah, Kid had accepted to bring Katy along while Lou drove the buckboard she had hired that very morning. As they rode towards the place, Kid thought that this trip reminded him a lot of that first time he had been with the three siblings together, but all in all, things were now very different from that moment. Back then Lou was practically a stranger to him and it had been very difficult to deal with her. In those days it seemed that she was always in a foul mood and she had clearly resented his presence when he had volunteered to spend some time with them to show Jeremiah some riding tricks. Despite Lou's rotten mood, Kid remembered that day with special fondness. It was from this point onwards that their friendship had started and had eventually grown into something deeper. Now Louise was the woman of his life and her siblings would hopefully become part of their family as well.

While Kid and Jeremiah rode Katy around the place, the girls set everything for the picnic between two leafy and high trees a few feet from the pond. Lou called the two boys when they had finished and the four of them enjoyed the food and the time together. The children kept babbling on endlessly, asking dozens of questions and telling as many stories about their daily life at the orphanage. As soon as they finished eating, the young'uns volunteered to wash the plates and dashed towards the pond. After they were gone, the couple remained in silence. Louise kept picking and moving the food she still had on her plate.

"Are you all right? You've hardly eaten anything," Kid said, watching her carefully.

Louise looked up and with a soft smile she replied, "My stomach's a bit queasy, that's all." The young man stared at her face, realizing for the first time how pale she looked.

"Lou, maybe we should go back to the city and you could lie down for a bit. I can stay with the children in the meantime," Kid suggested.

Ignoring his suggestion completely, Louise locked eyes with him and asked instead, "Why have you come, Kid?"

"I already told you. I want to be with the children and … with you," he said as he took her hand in his.

"And what about your special guest?" she asked again sarcastically.

"I don't know and I don't care!" he exclaimed a bit too roughly and he instantly cooled down and added in a soft voice, "Lou, you know I only care for you, nobody else."

"She wants you," Lou muttered, lowering her eyes and feeling a terrible urge to cry.

"But I don't," he stated firmly. Lou lifted her eyes to him, and they stared at each other intently. "I just want you," he whispered and shifting his body closer to her, Kid placed his hand on the nape of her neck and brought her mouth to his. The kiss started softly, their lips barely touching, ever so gently. Kid strained to taste her, feel her, sense her. For some strange reason it seemed like ages that they had been so close and he wanted to stretch the moment as much as possible. Yet, suddenly he had to pull away as laughter reached their ears. They looked up to see the two siblings giggling amusedly. Louise couldn't help but blush violently while Kid joined in their young'uns' mirth. "What are you two laughing at?"

Before anybody could say anything, Lou spurred them to clear away the remains of their picnic. The sun was hanging low in the sky, and Louise was starting to feel the cold in her bones. "We should leave before it gets dark," Lou said while placing the blanket and the rest of the things inside the hamper. Kid nodded, and in no time they were on their way back to the city.

The four spent the rest of the day in Saint Joseph, enjoying the amusements the city offered. The couple took the children to see a puppet show and later they all had dinner at one of the local restaurants. They had a charming day and Jeremiah and Theresa protested strongly when it was time to go back to the orphanage for the night. Lou assured them that they'd still have the following day to spend together and the children reluctantly said their good-nights and let the nun take them to their dormitories.

Kid and Lou drove back to the city in silence. For some strange reason she felt very nervous and self-conscious. She knew she wasn't in her best moment, and all this matter with Doritha had affected her more than she was really aware of. Even though Kid assured her that he had no interest whatsoever in his former fiancée, Lou still felt very odd and insecure. They had hardly spoken a word all day but for that small conversation they had by the pond, and with the children's raucous presence it had been easy to carry on without addressing each other. Yet, now that they were alone, Lou didn't know how to act. She had never been so jittery with him, not even when they had started courting. They had been friends for so long before they had started walking that path together that Lou had felt very natural and without any shyness around him. It was now that the feelings of awkwardness were coming over her. She knew she had to talk to him, but didn't know how to start. They reached town without uttering a single word. Louise looked at Kid curiously, who had hardly thrown a single glance to her during the whole ride. She wondered what was on his mind. He looked dead serious and had a weird expression on his face all of a sudden.

The night was quiet and after leaving the wagon at the stables, they started walking towards the hotel. Kid took her hand in his, and they continued along the street with intertwined hands. At one point he turned his eyes to Louise and said, "The children did have good fun today."

Lou smiled and her pent-up emotions and frayed nerves made her start rattling on. "I'm so glad to have come. I was afraid that they'd be sore at me for not seeing them for so many months, but you should've seen their faces when they saw me. They're such good children. I intend to visit them more often from now on. I need to find the way to do so, don't you think? And Sister Amelia told me that Jeremiah's doing so much better at school. Theresa has always been a clever and responsible little girl but my brother's been a little disaster … well... a bit like myself. He's getting older and it's just logical that he takes his responsibilities more seriously, ain't it?"

Louise stopped her long tirade to draw a breath when to her utter surprise Kid blurted out, "Marry me, Lou." The girl stopped walking while staring at him with big eyes. "I know this ain't the kind of proposal you deserve," he continued, "but all my other attempts to do so have failed and I couldn't … can't wait any longer." He paused to let out the air he had been holding and repeated, "Please marry me, Lou."

Louise kept staring at him with the same expression of disbelief as if she were seeing a ghost. The emotion and nerves she had been experimenting all day long took over in that very moment, and suddenly she burst out crying. Without any warning she shot towards the hotel leaving a bewildered Kid behind.

The young man remained rooted on the spot, stunned by her reaction and after a few seconds he dashed after her calling her name repeatedly. When he reached the hotel, she was nowhere to be seen, so he climbed the stairs and headed for her room. Once in front of the door Kid knocked lightly several times while he called, "Lou?"

He got no answer, so he dared to try the door. Fortunately, it wasn't locked and when he craned his head inside, he saw her sitting on the bed while sobbing quietly. The Southerner approached the bed and sat next to her. Without saying a word he passed an arm around her shoulders and Louise let herself be drawn towards his body. She wept against his chest while Kid caressed her head comfortingly. Kid was at a loss and didn't know what to say or do. Of all the possible reactions and replies to his proposal he had thought of, this wasn't one of them. Since leaving the children in the orphanage, he had been trying to finally pluck up the courage to ask her what had been on his mind for so long. Seeing her tears now he didn't know whether he had scared her or whether she was upset for another reason.

Lou's sobs finally subsided and she lifted her puffy eyes towards his. Kid smiled awkwardly, hoping that she didn't see the doleful expression of his eyes and after a few seconds, Louise blurted out, "I'm gonna have a baby."

"Wh…What?" Kid stuttered with a dumbfounded expression.

"I went to see the doctor this morning and he confirmed it," Lou explained in a very soft voice, her eyes downcast while her hands squeezed the material of her skirt tightly.

Kid was so thrown by the news that he could hardly utter a word. He hadn't expected this in a million years. Of course, he knew what consequences their loving activities could have, but naively he had thought that they had been careful. Now he understood why she lately looked so pale and tired. A baby. It was something too big to digest in just a few seconds. The silence was total in the room but for their breaths, and finally Kid found his own voice and said, "You … You and me made a baby?"

At his words Louise lifted her glaring eyes to him and shot him an annoyed look which could freeze his blood. "What the hell are you implying, you ignorant toad?" she barked loudly.

Kid stared at her clueless at the reasons of her irritation, and when it dawned on him, he exclaimed, "I didn't mean it like that! Gosh, Lou, how can you think I could doubt you?"

"I'm sorry," Louise let out with a tiny voice ashamed by her own mistrust and started crying again.

Kid held her between his arms again while planting feathery kisses on the top of her head. "What is it, sweetie?"

"I … I dunno," she replied with a cracked voice, disengaging herself from his hold and wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

"Lou, I am here with you, and always will be. You got nothing to fear," he stated without the slightest hesitation in his voice and cupping her face in his hands he lifted it towards him while he exclaimed, "Lou, honey, we're gonna have a baby!"

Lou was taken aback by the excitement in his voice and the glow in his eyes and she asked huskily, "Are you happy?"

"Of course I am!" he replied promptly and pausing for a second he added, "But … you know… I could be even happier." Lou sent him a quizzical look, not getting what he was hinting at. "You never answered my question," Kid added wriggling his eyebrows pointedly. Lou smiled when Kid took her hand and went down on one knee. "Louise McCloud, will you marry me?"

Her mouth split up in a big smile and Lou leaned forward, planting a smacking kiss on his lips. "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes." Kid kissed her again, feeling like the luckiest man in the universe. They pulled away and started laughing uncontrollably. When they sobered, Kid sat down on the bed next to her and began searching in his pocket. He produced a small velvety pouch and said, "I've been carrying this for the last few days, and it is high time we finally made use of it." He poured the contents on his palm and taking Lou's right hand, he slid the ring on her finger.

"Oh Kid, it's beautiful!" Lou exclaimed with an expression of utter contentment.

"But not as much as you are," he said, which provoked a coy smile in her. His heart was swelling with the thousands of sensations and feelings showering him and he felt so elated that he wanted to shout it from the highest building in Saint Joseph and let the world know about it. He slid an arm over her shoulders bringing her closer and they fell back on the soft bed. "Lou, I swear I'll do my best to make you happy, to care for you and … our baby."

Lou smiled at the reference. The fears she had harbored in her heart since she had visited the doctor were gone. She knew that they were going to be fine and have a good life together. Of course they'd have to struggle and work hard, but she didn't care. She wasn't afraid or insecure any longer. Kid was with her, they were going to be a real family and there was nothing but hope shining in the horizon.

They spent the night in each other's arms talking and making plans. The wedding was left on the underground as they continually talked about the baby. Kid wanted to know what the doctor had told her, what she could and couldn't do in her state, whether she should eat certain foods now and what kind of cares or precautions she needed to have. Louise answered his questions and curiosity as best as she could. Truth to be told, Lou had been such a nervous wreck when she had gone to the doctor that she hadn't been able to find the serenity to ask the physician anything related to the baby growing in her. When they were back in Rock Creek, she'd go to see Doctor Sanders and ask him all the doubts she had. The idea of the baby had scared her out of her wits when she had first known for sure, but now her heart filled with warmth and bliss. She already loved this baby with all her heart, their first child, and she'd do everything she could to take care of it and not let any harm to befall it.

In the early hours of the morning they were finally defeated by sleep after endlessly talking and sharing the excitement they felt. The couple only managed to grasp a couple of hours' rest as early in the morning they headed back for the orphanage. Though tired, they both were elated and beaming with happiness. Kid had stated that now they were getting married, it was time Jeremiah and Theresa lived with them as part of their family. Even though Lou couldn't wish for anything better, she had voiced her doubts and fears about their economic situation.

With a baby on its way she'd have to stop working and become a full-time wife and mother. That would mean to muddle through without her wages and depend entirely on the income from the ranch. Louise didn't want her and her siblings to become a burden for Kid and they also had to think that there would be another mouth to feed in about seven months. Kid had assured her that everything would be all right and she didn't have to worry. Louise let herself be persuaded by his confidence and prayed that everything would turn out to be right. It seemed as if all her dreams were becoming a reality in just one day. She had longed to have her siblings with her for so many years that it felt kind of strange to come to terms with the fact that it was actually going to happen. She had even started to think that it would never take place but life had surprised her again. Somehow she feared that so much good couldn't really be for her. Her wedding to the man she loved, a baby, a home for her and her siblings. It was too much. She couldn't help but feel that something bad would spoil everything before she could have the chance to enjoy all that. Maybe she was just a pessimist, but the feeling that a dark cloud would darken her bright horizon at any moment wouldn't fade even though she tried to hush all those nagging thoughts away.

When they reached the orphanage that morning, they went to talk to the mother superior. Lou had warned Kid beforehand that he shouldn't mention anything about their upcoming parenthood, especially to the nuns, so when they were ushered to see the mother, they straightaway got down to the point of their coming wedding and their wish to take the children with them. After congratulating the couple, one of the nuns took them to the girls' dormitory where Theresa and Jeremiah had anxiously been waiting for them since the two siblings had woken up that morning. On seeing them appear, the young girl ran to hug them warmly while Jeremiah dashed to the door, ready to spend the day outside the walls of the orphanage.

"One moment, Miah," Lou said. "There's something we need to tell you." She beckoned him to sit on one of the beds next to Theresa while the couple seated themselves in the one opposite the two siblings.

"Did I do something wrong?" Jeremiah asked tentatively.

"No, nothing like that" Kid replied promptly. "It's just something that you need to know."

"Something important," Lou added to his remark. The two children bobbed their heads up and down in unison while the couple exchanged a computational look. "You know, Kid and I have been seeing each other for a while now," Lou started softly, choosing the words carefully, "and … well… we've decided to get married."

The children remained quiet, and Kid continued where Louise had left off. "So we've thought that it's high time you left this place. You'll be our special guests at the wedding and then we'll all finally live together like a family."

For one moment neither of the children said anything and after a beat Jeremiah asked, "Do you mean forever?"

"That's right," Lou replied with a candid smile.

"We aren't going to live here anymore?" Theresa asked this time, not sure if she had understood what Louise had been going on about.

"Uh huh," Lou nodded. "After the wedding we'll all be living on the ranch Kid has in Rock Creek. I'm sure you'll like it there."

"I know I wasn't part of the deal you had with your sister," Kid added, "but I love her very much, and I hope you let me be part of your family as well."

"So what do you say?" Louise asked while Kid grabbed her hand in his and gave her an encouraging squeeze.

"And we can leave now?" Jeremiah responded with obvious excitement.

Louise and Kid shared a smile and she said, "Yeah … I mean… as soon as we've packed your things."

The two siblings cheered, clapping their hands and hugging the couple warmly. Louise felt her heart swell with happiness and she decided to turn a deaf ear to the ominous feelings that had been shaking her. She was being a fool and she needed to get rid of her insecurities and enjoy what she had been granted.

In less than an hour they were ready to go. Even though they were excited and elated, the children had some tears when they had to say good-bye to the nuns and their young friends. It was understandable. The orphanage was the only home they'd known and they'd logically miss the people who had been their only family for years. When they had first come to live in the orphanage, they had been very young. Lou doubted that Theresa had any recollections of their mother and she could bet that Jeremiah didn't have many either.

Louise came to thank the sisters for everything they had done for her siblings all these years and they wished her the best in her coming marriage. The children were already on the back of the wagon and Kid helped her to sit on the buckboard seat next to him. The four waved at the group in front of the orphanage, who had gone out to see them off, when the Southerner spurred the horses forward, leaving the building behind. As Kid handled the reins, Louise hooked her arm through his, resting her head on his shoulder. The young man smiled and turning his eyes to her, he asked, "Ready to go home, Miss McCloud?"

Louise plastered a big smile on her face and locking eyes with him she said, "More than anything."